Running Unopposed Berkley's Jewish school board candidates share a commitment to public education. JULIE WIENER STAFF WRITER The biggest issues Ms. Berg- er White sees on the Berkley schools horizon are budgeting and schools of choice. Like oth- er districts throughout the state, Berkley schools face the chal- lenge of generating more rev- enue despite limitations imposed by the Proposal A referendum. B erkley voters are either ap- athetic about their school board or simply content. As in many districts in Oakland County, Berkley's June 9 school board race is uncontest- ed. Two first-time candidates — both Jewish — are running for two open seats. Although this is her first elec- tion, Barbara Berger White of Huntington Woods has served on the Berkley school board since July, when she was appointed to replace Howard Wittenberg, who resigned. Having served as school board observer for her local PTA and co- chair for the 1995 Berkley district bond campaign, Ms. Berger White found the adjustment to board member easy. A social worker by profession, she has social groups, including a crisis been involved with the Berkley intervention center. "The school board came at a schools since her oldest child — great time in my life," she said. now 13 — started school. Ms. Berger White says she has "My kids were getting older and been volunteering most of her I was looking for alternatives in adult life in different nonprofit work." Like Ms. Berger White, Catherine Fridson is from Hunt- ington Woods and became in- volved in local education issues when her children started school. With three children enrolled in Berkley schools, Ms. Fridson has volunteered as a tutor, served as president and treasurer for her PTA and was voted "Par- e n t of the Year" by the Burton Elementary School PTA. "I really believe in - public schools as a foun- dation of a free society," ViteleitA said Ms. Fridson, herself a prod- uct of the Detroit Public Schools. With a volunteer background in education and a professional background in business, Ms. Fridson is confident that she is up to the task of serving on the school board. "I'm not unfamil- iar with financial issues of large organizations," she said. Like Ms. Berger White, she sees fi- nancial management as the cen- tral issue facing Berkley's schools. Neither candidate feels there are any issues of specific Jewish interest facing the schools, but Ms. Fridson said that while "this ▪ district is fairly well-attuned to ▪ Jewish issues," it is important to maintain a Jewish presence 0 on the board. Other current members of the board who are Jewish include Bruce Klein, who is retiring, Marc Katz and Bar- ry Blauer. Ms. Fridson is a member of Beth Shalom, and Ms. Berger White is a member of Temple Emanu-El. Et School board elections will t,ake place throughout Oakland County on Monday, June 9. For information about the candi- dates in your district, call the League of Women Voters at (248) 647-1350. In addition, the Above: Barbara Berger White district must de- cide whether or not to open its Right: Catherine Fridson doors to stu- dents from oth- er districts. DESIGNS IN DECORATOR LAMINATES, LTD. IT DOESN'T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE...ONLY LOOK LIKE IT! FEATURING • Wall Units • Bedrooms • Dining Rooms • Credenzas • Tables • Offices SPECIALTIES • • • • • Formica Woods Stones Glass Lucite LOIS HARON 8514989 Allied Member ASID TE 0 0 7 4 0 0 0 Nie NOW OPEN SUNDAYS! BIRMINGHAM 810-644-1919 • 690 S. WOODWARD LIVONIA 313-522-9200 • 29500 W. 6 MILE RD. NOVI 810-348-0090 • 48700 GRAND RIVER • Please call for store hours. CASUAL OUTDOOR FURNITURE AT .COMPLETELY RELAXED PRICES Featuring Valentina An exclusive boutique catering to the woman who wears sizes 14 to 32. NORTHWESTERN HIGHWAY, BETWEEN 12 & 13 MILE ROADS .